Saint John the Baptist
Today is the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. Since yesterday was Sunday,1 there was no opportunity to celebrate Saint John’s Eve, which is traditionally a time to light festive bonfires.
The story of the Jewish people moves from Abraham through Exodus to the Judges to the Kings to the Prophets. It culminates in Christ, the culmination of all things. He is Priest, Prophet, and King, and in Baptism we come to share this designation as well.
So what’s the deal with John the Baptist, anyway?
The Old Testament Prophets reach their peak in the person of Saint John the Baptist, even while he is the herald of Christ.
The Orthodox and Eastern Catholics often call him “Holy Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John”, for he is indeed the forerunner of Christ, the “voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.'” (Matt 3:3).
He is, in effect, the hinge of the two testaments.
Saint Augustine puts it this way:
John, then, appears as the boundary between the two testaments, the old and the new. That he is a sort of boundary, the Lord himself bears witness, when he speaks of the law and the prophets up until John the Baptist. Thus he represents times past and is the herald of the new era to come.
As a representative of the past, he is born of aged parents; as a herald of the new era, he is declared to be a prophet while still in his mother’s womb. For when yet unborn, he leapt in his mother’s womb at the arrival of blessed Mary. In that womb he had already been designated a prophet, even before he was born; it was revealed that he was to be Christ’s precursor, before they saw one another.
(From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop and Doctor of the Church (Sermo 293, 1-3: PL 38, 1327-1328))
Of human beings, only the Blessed Virgin Mary is held in higher esteem than Saint John the Baptist, and today’s feast is one of the oldest in the church.
Normally we celebrate a saint’s day on the anniversary of his or her death, but
In the case of other saints or of God’s chosen ones, the Church, as you know, solemnizes the day on which they were reborn to everlasting beatitude after ending the trials of this life and gloriously triumphing over the world.
For all these the final day of their lives, the day on which they completed their earthly service is honored. But for John the day of his birth, the day on which he began this mortal life is likewise sacred. The reason for this is, of course, that the Lord willed to announce to men His own coming through the Baptist, lest if He appeared suddenly, they would fail to recognize Him.
(Saint Augustine)
For all Saint John’s greatness, his foretold birth and his prophetic gift, he nevertheless becomes the first Christian ascetic. He “wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey” (Matt 3:4).
Even in his icons, he is made to look like a first century Grizzly Adams.
The Desert Fathers take their inspiration from him, and from them comes the entire Christian monastic tradition.
So remember: if you are called to the contemplative life, whether in the monastery or in the world, you are also called to be a voice, crying in the wilderness.
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that your family may walk in the way of salvation
and, attentive to what Saint John the Precursor urged,
may come safely to the One he foretold,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.Amen.
(Collect for the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist)
Another ancient tradition on this night is the musically famous hymn Ut queant laxis, which is sung at vespers. Enjoy! Words below in Latin and English.
The words:
1. Ut queant laxis resonáre fibris
Mira gestórum fámuli tuórum,
Solve pollúti lábii reátum, Sancte Joánnes.
2. Núntius celso véniens Olýmpo
Te patri magnum fore nascitúrum,
Nomen, et vitae sériem geréndae
Ordinae promit.
3. Ille promíssi dúbius supérni,
Pérdidit promptae módulos loquélae:
Sed reformásti genitus perémptae
Organa vocis.
4. Ventris obstrúso récubans cubíli
Sénseras Regem thálamo manéntem:
Hinc parens nati méritis utérque Abdita pandit.
5. Sit decus Patri, genitaéque Proli
et tibi, compare utriúsque virtus,
Spíritus semper, Deus unus, omni
Témporis aevo.
Amen.
Englished:
1. O for your spirit, holy John, to chasten
Lips sin-polluted, fettered tongues to loosen;
So by your children might your deeds of wonder
Meetly be chanted.
2. Lo! a swift herald, from the skies descending,
Bears to your father promise of your greatness;
How he shall name you, what your future story,
Duly revealing.
3. Scarcely believing message so transcendent,
Him for a season power of speech forsaketh,
Till, at your wondrous birth, again returneth,
Voice to the voiceless.
4. You, in your mother’s womb all darkly cradled,
Knew your great Monarch, biding in His chamber,
Whence the two parents, through their offspring’s merits,
Mysteries uttered.
5. Praise to the Father, to the Son begotten,
And to the Spirit, equal power possessing,
One God whose glory, through the lapse of ages,
Ever resounding. Amen.